The Importance Of Imperialism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of...

On the surface, Conrad’s work seems to simply stress, â€Å"Humanity is important; fidelity is the highest virtue† (Moser, 1966, pg 11) but is both more subtle and complex. Even in the title of the book, Heart of Darkness, has significance. Africa’s Victorian era nickname was the ‘dark continent’, which â€Å"referred to the fact that little was known in the West about the interior of the continent† (yourdictionary.com, 2017). Therefore, Congo is the interior or ‘heart’ of Africa. This title also alludes to the darkness or the primitiveness in mans mind and heart. This essence of savagery, brutality and cruelty is represented in Kurtz, the devil himself. Kurtz is the heart of darkness. Imperialism is central to the novel because it allows men to†¦show more content†¦Kurtz embodies the lust for wealth and possession, and a desire to dominate other all for colonialism in the name of educating and civilizing the popular. Justified under the cover of bringing a bright light into the savages lives but the irony is that he is overshadowed by the darkness of his own heart. Kurts had succumbed to the darkness and Marlow emphasizes the insanity that overwhelms him. â€Å"Everything belonged to him – but that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. That was the reflection that made you creepy all over. †¦ – it was not good for one either – trying to imagine. He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land† (Conrad, 2009, pg 174-175) Krutz best represents the biggest irony. Krutz wanted to tame the cannibals and viewed that whites where superior to the natives. Highly progressive, he had preached morality concept but at the end of his report he had scrawled, â€Å"Exterminate all the brutes† (Conrad,Show MoreRelatedHeart of Darkness on the Flaws of Imperial Authority1024 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Heart of Darkness† on the Flaws of Imperial Authority Throughout Joseph Conrad’s â€Å"Heart of Darkness† despite the many conditions of the described Africa most if not all the characters agree that these conditions indeed differ from the conditions found in Europe. In working through conversations with Chinua Achebe’s Colonialist Criticism and An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrads Heart of Darkness it can be brought to light that not only is Conrad’s â€Å"Heart of Darkness† a novel that criticizesRead MoreCorruption Of Imperialism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness1473 Words   |  6 Pagesbecome corrupt themselves. 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